Written Answers Monday 4 April 2005

Scottish Executive

Asylum Seekers

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13857 by Malcolm Chisholm on 9 February 2005, what information it has on how the payments received from central government for asylum support were distributed in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99, broken down by local authority.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held by the Scottish Executive. Prior to 1 April 1999, the budget for support of asylum seekers was split between the then Department of Social Security and the Department of Health.

Individual Learning Accounts

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many colleges have registered for the individual learning accounts scheme since its relaunch.

Mr Jim Wallace: To date 41 further education colleges have been registered approved ILA Scotland learning providers.

Prison Service

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reverse any moves towards prison privatisation and bring HM Prison Kilmarnock into the state sector in light of the BBC Frontline Scotland programme’s account of the operation of the prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  No.The SPS do not consider that this would be justified or necessary. Premier Prison Service is carrying out an investigation into the allegations contained within the BBC programme. The SPS will work with the company to ensure that all necessary action is taken.